Sense of History on Tour de France's Showpiece Stage
Marcus Liddell
|
Posted 17.09.2012
|
UK Sport
Read More:
Stage 16,
Sky,
Doping,
Thomas Voeckler,
Frank Schleck,
Team Sky,
Tour De France,
Bradley Wiggins,
Marcus Liddell,
Chris Froome,
Cycling,
Tournmalet,
UK Sport News
There was an unpleasant sense of déjà-vu at the start of stage 16. Frank Schleck's positive drug test continued a dishonourable Tour de France tradition of rest day drug busts. Schleck himself denies taking any banned substance and withdrew from the race awaiting the result of his 'B' sample. But it was a reminder of cycling's darker days ahead of this year's showpiece. A punishing 197 km stage combining four substantial climbs, including the Col du Tourmalet, one of professional cycling's great arenas. If there was ever a stage to truly test Bradley Wiggins this was it.
